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The death toll from the wave of severe storms and tornadoes in the southern United States on Wednesday has risen to over 200. On Thursday, Alabama residents returned to their homes to survey the damage.

The storms Wednesday spawned tornadoes and winds in five Southern states: Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. All five states have reported fatalities; 128 have been confirmed dead in Alabama.

A report from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will eventually be sent to the state. Then Gov. Jay Nixon can seek federal assistance for areas damaged by the tornado that hit the St. Louis area Friday.

Peter Kinder's travel came under scrutiny following a report earlier this month by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Kinder had charged taxpayers a total of $35,050 for at least 329 nights at hotels in the St. Louis area since 2006.